Wringer



May 22, 1945.

R.' s. BLOUGH WRINGER Original Filed Aug. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet I jf @M7574 Patented May 22, 1945 Ronald S. Blongh, Falreld, Iowa, assignor to The Dexter Company, Fairfield, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Original application August 4, 1940, Serial No.

15, 1943, Serial No. 479,203

Divided and this application March Claims. (Cl. 88-263) This invention is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 351,417, iiled August 4, 1940 issued October 19, 1943` as Patent -No. 2,332,129 and relates to clothes wringers and more particularly toa new and improved wringer safety release mechanism wherein the pressure between the wringer rolls may be released by pressure on the exterior surface of the wringer at any point on the wringer structure.'

Before describing the detailed structure and operation of the present disclosure, itis believed advisable to point out that in the prior art many. diileren't forms of safety release mechanisms have been applied to wringers and these mechanisms have customarily been provided with release buttons, levers or bars arranged in such a manner as to be as conveniently accessible as possible, so that they may be easily operated without dimculty in case of emergency. Despite many attempts to provide satisfactory arrangement of bars, however, wringer accidents continue t0 occur and it is the underlying theory of the present invention that any conceivable arrangement of release buttons or bars is insufficient in view of the necessity for instant action in case of emergency'and that to provide an entirely successful releasing mechanism, it is essential that the pressure between the rolls should be releasable by manually striking, pushing or pulling any portion of the wringer structure, and also by the natural reflex reaction of the operator in case of accident. Y

It is a matter of' common knowledge that in the' event that the operatorvmay allow her hand to come into the wringer and be gripped by the bite of the rolls, the sharp pain caused by the roll pressure will result in an entirely involuntary reilex action tending to jerk the hand from the rolls. Unforunately, however, the grip of the rolls is too secure to permit the hand to be withdrawn, with the result that in prior art devices serious injuries may occur before the operator regains suicient presence of mind to operate manual release targets or bars.

This invention proposes to utilize the involuntary reaction for the purpose of actuating conably hrm so that it may be'conveniently operated, and that the latching mechanism be stable to prevent accidental release o f the pressure spring, as, for example, when the operator desires toshift the wringer from one indexed position to a. different angular position with respect to the wringer column, or to reverse the direction of rotation of the rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide v a shiftable wringer having a releasable pressure latch arranged to be operated by the shifting movement and including a spring centering device arranged to maintain the wringer in operating position and prevent any possibility of accidental shifting due to small accidental lateral forces applied to the wringer during the normal operation of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a pivoted wringer structure wherein the pivot comprises concentric top and bottom bearings spaced apart a relatively great distance sufficient to prevent vundesirable binding in the pivot connection due to the weight of the wringer or to extreme vertical forces applied to the unsupported end of the wringer structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wringer including stationary supporting elements and shiftable wringer and release device comprising a pin and a V-notch supported on the stationary and movable structures, respectively, and so arranged that movement of the wringer in either of two possible directions will result in uni-directional movement to release a novel safety latch by powerful lever action.

These and other important objects are accomplished in the present invention by the structure disclosed in the drawings accompanying and Vforming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the center line of a wringer comprising a preferred embodiment of the inventive principles herein disclosed;V

trol devices to release the wringer pressure, but

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view ofthe wringer structure illustrated in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a. detailed plan sectional view taken substlantially on the plane of theline 3-3 in Fis- Fig. 4 is a detailed plan sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 in` otally mounted, so that it may be shifted in either direction to actuate the wrlnger release mechanism. The wringer column includes a notched indexing plate I2 and is provided with a central driving tube I3 and a bearing I4. As willbe seen from an ,examination of Fig. l, the wringer column extends upwardly beyond the indexing plate I2 a suiiicient distance to provide a relatively long telescoping cylindrical bearing surface I5 to support the sleeve-like bearing surface I6 of the gear housing I1. The housing I1 serves to enclose a pair of driving pinions I8 and I9, each of which is arranged to mesh with a I driven bevel gear 2| and each of which is mounted in axial alignment on a short drive shaft'22 journaled in the upper and lower drive shaft bearings 23 and 24. The lower extremity'ofthe drive shaft 22 is coupled to the driving tube lI3 to complete the Vpower connection between the driving gears and a conventional motor of a washing machine.

A;clutch sleeve 25 is splined to the drive shaft 22 and arranged-to be shifted vertically along the shaft 22 by means of the gear shifting handle 2B having an eccentric shifting pin .21 on the hub28, it being understood, of course, that whenever the clutch collar 25 is moved upwardly it willengage suitable clutch teeth on the driving pinion I8 to drive the Wringer in a lforward direction, and whenever the gear shift handle 26 is actuated to shift the clutch collar 25 downwardly, it will engage similar teeth on the bevel pinion I9 and drive the Wringer rolls in a reverse direcpression spring 32 arranged to exert a downward pressurey on the-washer 33 attached to the pin 3| to urge the lower end of the pin 3| into locked engagement'lwith one of the notches of the indexing platef|2 and thus lock the gear housing I1 in anyone-f a plurality of angular positions corresponding to the angular positions of the several notches in the indexing plate.A It is to be understood, of course, that when it is desirable to shift the angular position of the vvringer structure, the indexing pin 3| must be lifted upwardly andwithdrawn from the indexing plate, and to accomplish this a trip lever 34 is pivoted on a.

pin and is provided with a bifurcated yoke 36 arranged to encircle the pin 3| and lift the pin 3| by applying upward pressure on the washer 33.

The main wringer structure is not rigidly secured to the gear housing I1, but is provided with a separate frame 4| which Lencloses the entire gear housing l1 and which is provided with an upper bearing 42 arranged to encircle the bearing sleeve 43 on the extreme upper end of the gear housing I1 to establish pivotal connectionbetween the gear housing I1 and the wringer frame 4|. To insure smooth pivoting action between the gear housing and the frame 4|, the upper bearings 42 and 43 are supplemented 'by concentric lower bearings between the exterior bearing surface 44 of the sleeve portion I6 and a cooperating .bearing surface 45 formed integrally with the frame casting 4|. A retaining strap 46 is provided to complete the bearing surface around the sleeve I6 and an annular ange 41 is formed immediately above the bearing 45 in order to prevent the wringer frame from being moved vertically with respect to the gear housing I1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the entire wringer frame 4| is pivotally mounted on the bearings 42-43 and 44-45, and may thus shift a limited amount in either direction with respect to the gear housing I1. 4It should be noted, also, that this pivotal mounting is at a point remote from the bite of the rolls, so that inthe event of accident the natural reiiex reaction, tending to jerk the hand from the rolls, may be utilized to operate a pressure release 1atch. A

This provides, in effect, a reex release, since its operation is entirely automatic and will release the pressure in an emergency entirely independently of any rationalthought or voluntary action on the part of the operator.

At certain times in the operation of the mechanism, for example, when itis desired to swing the wringer across the washing machine tub and alter the indexed position of the wringer with respect to the wringer column II, it is desirable to prevent this pivotal movement and. thus to prevent any possibility of the wringer pressure being accidentally released While the mechanism is being indexed. 'I'his invention is the subject of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 351,417, filed August 4, 1940 and will be explained here in this divisional application only to explain its relationship to the present invention.

To accomplish this result, a locking plug 31 is provided on the index pin 3| and is provided with a slightly rounded upper portion arranged to seat in a locking socket 38 in the bearing 45 to positively lock the housing I1 and wringer frame 4| against relative movement whenever the indexing pin 3| is lifted out of thev notches in the indexing plate I2. The plug 31 is positioned on the pin 3| in such a position that the lower end of the pin 3| will engage the indexing plate shortly before the plug releases to permit pivotal movement between the gear housing I1 and wringer frame, so that the pin 3| must be firmly seated in the indexing plate before the reiiex release mechanism becomes operative.

The indexing pin 3| accomplishes an additional function in that it is interlocked with the gear shift mechanism lto prevent the indexing mechanism from being released when the wringer is in gear. This would be objectionable since any mechanical resistance in the wringer would tend to cause the torque exerted |by the driving tube I3 to swing the entire wringer around the wringer column, butl it is prevented in the present structure byproviding a notch 40 in the hub 28 and maintained in association with the top framel 58 by a pair of retaining straps 59 and 6| secured to the top frame 58 by the cap screws 62. The top frame 58 is preferably, though not necessarily, pivoted to the main frame 4| by means of a pivot pin 53 at the extreme right-hand end of the top frame. With this arrangement the top frame 58 may pivot upwardly around the pivot 63 to release the pressure between the rolls 8l and 2l in case of emergency, but when the wringer is in operating position, the outer end of the top frame $8 will be locked in engagement with the frame 4I by'mechanisxns to lbe hereinafter described, and the upper roll 88 will be forced downwardly into pressure engagement with the lower roll 2S by the flat'pressure spring 84. A conventional pressure adjusting mechanism may be used on the spring 8|, as, for example, the adjustable screw 8l. In order to lock the top frame 58 in operating position on the lower frame 4I, a cross pin 88 is mounted on an upwardly extending lug 81 adjacent the outer end of th wringer structure. The pin 88 projects outwardly on either side of the lug 81 sufliciently to be engaged by a pair of latching :bars 88, but it should be understood that the pin 88 does not extend through the side walls of the wringer top frame B8. The latching bars lie immediately inside of the side walls 88 of the top frame 88 and are slidably mounted in notches 1I and urged to the right by the compression springs 10 around the dual bar 88 abutting the roll bearings as shown in Fig. i and urging the bars 88 to the right. In order to prevent the latching bars 88 beingdislocated from the notches 1I, suitable extensions 12 are provided on each of the straps 59 andeBI to over-lie the lower edges of each of the bars 68. Each of the bars 88 is provided with an inclined cam surface 18 at it outer end, and at the inner end the bars are Joined by a rivet 14 and are also interconnected by a cross 4pin 15 on which a rotatable sleeve 18 is mounted (see Fig. 3). 'Ihe pin 18 and sleeve 18 are arranged to pass through the bayonet slot 11 in a latching plate 18 pivoted on a cross pin 18 extending between the lugs 8I, which are preferably formed integral with the top frame 88. The latching plate 18 is preferably formed of U-shaped configuration, having indentical side plates 18a and 1lb joined by a connecting web 18e. A v-shaped notch 82 is formed in the web 18e and a release roller 88 is mounted on a pin 84 stationarily afllxed to the boss 8l on the gear housing I1. A reset lever 88 is pivotally mounted on the cross pin 81 and is positioned to lie within an opening 88 on the wringer top frame 88 and is vprovided with a hooked-shaped portion 88 adapted to engage the sleeve 18 during the resetting operation.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: When the parts of the wringer mechanism are in the operating position asl illustrated in the drawings, the operator may grasp the gear shift lever 26 and move it in either direction to cause of the pin 8l may risel into the notch I8 in the hub 28 of the gear shiftin'g lever 28.

To release the pressure voluntarily, the operator may strike the wringer frame 4I at any point remote from the wringer coluriad whenever this is done, the wringer frame will pivot on the bearings I2-48l and "-48, thus causing the latching plate "to shift its position with respect to the latch releasing roller 88. Inasmuch as the releasing roller 83 is positioned between the cam surfaces comprising the V-notch 82, any relative movement at this point will cause the plate 18 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction around the rivet 18 and will lift the right angled bayonet slot 11 to permit the cross-pin Il and rotatable sleeve 1l to be moved to the right asl shown in Fig. 1.

When the cross pin 15 has been thus released, the coiled compression springs 10 will urge the slide bars 88 to the right as viewed in the 'drawings, thus causing the slide bars 68 to withdraw from engagement with the cross pins 88 and release the entire top frame 8 8 of the wringer. The top frame 58 will remain in pivotal connection with the main frame 4I by reason of the cross pin 88, but will rise sufllciently to allow the pressure spring 84 to assume its natural configuration and release all effective operating pressure between the rolls.

In the event of an accident, the operator need not do any voluntary act, since if her hand be-y as described above.

To reset the wringer, pressure is applied by lifting the reset handle 88 in a pivotal movement to approximately a vertical position, after which the handle 88 may be returnedk to its normal operating position in the opening 88 of the top frame 58. It will be noted that as the handle 88 is pivoted about the pin 81, the hook-like portion 8l will engage the sleeve 18 and force the slide bars 88 to the left. At this time the inclined cam surfaces 18 will engage the lower side of the cross pin 88 and act to force the top 58 downwardly so that the pressure spring 64 will be slightly flexed and will apply initialioperating pressure between the upper roll 85 and the lower roll 29. As the re- 11, and the latching plate 18 will drop into posithe clutch collar 25 to engage either the upper pinion I8 or the lower pinion I8, and thus drive the wringer rolls 29 and 85 in either the forward or a reverse direction. When the operator desires to shift the angular position of the wringer with respect to the wringer column II and indexing plate I2, she may pivot the gear shift lever 26 inwardly about the pivot 28a until the lower Iend of the lever 26 contacts the lever 84 and lifts the locking pin Il above the slots of the indexing plate I2. When the pin 8l is withdrawn from the indexing plate I2, the wringer structure may be manually shifted to any angular position, and the pin 3| lowered to engage and lock in another notch of the indexingplate. It is to be noted, however, that the indexing mechanism cannot be disengaged unless the gear driving collar 2i is in its neutral position, so that the upper end tion and prevent a return movement of the slide bars. It is appreciated that the force of gravity is sumcient to cause the latching movement of the plate 18, but to insure positive operation, a

coil spring 18a may be inserted to exert a constant tension in a clockwise direction around the pivot pin 18. It will further be appreciated that coaction of the cam-surfaces 13 with-the pin 68 and 1. In a` power driven wringer, a normally stationary wringer gear head, including a cam roller,

' pivotally mounted on'a support tube, a wringer frame plvotallymounted coaxiaily with the support tube for limited pivotal movement from central aligned position on the gear head, and a spring urged V-notch member on the frame to coact with the cam roller on the gear head to normally hold the frame in aligned vcentral position on the gear head.

2. In a power driven wringer, a normally stationary wringer gear head, including a cam roller, pivotally mounted on a support tube, a wringer frame pivotally mounted coaxially with the support tube for limited pivotal movement from central aligned operating position on the gear head, coacting pressure rolls in the frame, spring pressure means for the rolls, pressure release mechanism, and a V-notch member on the frame coacting with the cam roller on the gear head to normally hold the frame in aligned central operating position on the gear head and for actuating the pressure release mechanism when the wringer frame is pivotally moved on the gear head.

3. In a power driven wringer, a normally stationary wringer gear head, including a cam roller, pivotally mounted on a `support tube, a wringer frame pivotally mounted Icoaxially With the support tube for limited pivotal movement from central aligned operating position on the gear head, coacting pressure rolls in the frame, spring pressure means for the rolls, pressure release mechanism, and a V-notch member on the frame coacting with the cam roller on the gear head to normally hold the frame in aligned central operating position on the gear head and for actuating the pressure release mechanism when the wringer frame is moved pivotally on the gear head, said cam roller and V-notch member being located near the pivot points of the frame and gear head to provide high leverage advantage from comparatively' light forces applied to the frame to actuate the release mechanism and relieve roll pressure. I f

4. In a power driven wringer, a normally stationary wringer gear head, including a cam roller, pivotally ymounted on a support tube, a Wringer frame pivotally mounted coaxially with the support tube for limited pivotal movement from central aligned operating position on the gear head, coacting pressure rollsV in the frame, spring pressure means for the rolls including a tiltable latch having a right angled bayonet opening, and a V-notch member on the frame coacting with the cam roller on the gear head to normally hold the frame in aligned central operating position on, the gear head and for actuating the tiltable latch when the wringer frame is moved pivotally on the gear head. 5. In a power-driven wringer, a. normally sta tionary wringer gear head, including a cam roller,

pivotally mounted on a support tube, a wringer frame pivotally mounted coaxiallywith the support tube for limited pivotal movement from central aligned operating position on the gear head,

coacting pressure rolls in the frame, vspring presl sure means for the rolls including a pair of angle cam bars coacting with a pin in the frame to re- ,leasably hold the rolls in pressure relationship, a tiltable latch for holding or releasing the 'cam bars, and a V-notch member on the frame coacting with the cam roller on the gear head to' when the frame is moved pivotally on the gear head.

RONALD S. BLOUGH. 

